February In Precious Metals, by Steven Cochran of Gainesville Coins

Welcome to SurvivalBlog’s Precious Metals Month in Review, where we take a look at “the month that was” in precious metals. Each month, we cover the price action of gold and silver and examine the “what” and “why” behind those numbers.

Gold trended lower during February, after hitting multi-year highs in January, for several reasons. Physical demand from China was lower, after the habitual gold binge in January for the Lunar New Year. The Greek debt crisis tended to swing both gold and the U.S. dollar back and forth, but the warfare in Ukraine seemed to do little for gold outside of Ukraine or Russia. Perhaps the biggest driver for gold (and the dollar) is the markets’ reactions to U.S. economic news, trying to time when the Fed would begin raising interest rates. This was demonstrated on February 26, when gold jumped over 1% after Fed Chairman Janet Yellen’s testimony before Congress indicated that any hike in rates would be late in the year.

Precious Metals Market Drivers in February

Greece Vs. EU

The showdown between the new leftist government in Greece and its creditors this month dominated the news and the economy in Europe and beyond. Demands in Athens that bondholders have more of their investments taken away and refusal to abide by previously-agreed to austerity measures, led the ECB to announce that it would no longer take Greek sovereign debt as collateral for loans to commercial banks.

The Marxist-leaning finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, visited the finance ministries of other EU nations to drum up support, but the Greek government’s refusal to abide by the conditions of the 240 billion euro bailout and insistence that the final payment be turned over to them with no strings attached met with little support. The president of the European Commission told the Greeks that the EU would not stand for being blackmailed by Greece.

The situation led to bank runs in Greece, with one billion euros being pulled out of banks in two days by citizens afraid that the leftist government would make good on its threats to default and leave the EU. According to some estimates, 11 billion euros had been pulled out of Greek banks ahead of the January 25th election, with that amount accelerating as Greek citizens feared a Cyprus-style bank bail-in and seizure of deposits.

The Greek government’s stance led former U.S. Fed chairman Alan Greenspan to declare that Greece leaving the EU was just a matter of time, and leading banks put the chance of a “Grexit” from the EU at 50%. Finally, on February 20th, the Greeks capitulate and pledge to abide by the terms of the bailout in return for a four-month extension of aid. The EU agreed to let the Greek government change some things in the agreement, as long as the total government budget didn’t increase. Greek leaders immediately came under fire back home for betraying the mandate that they were elected under.

John Browne, writing at Euro Pacific Capital, says that Athen’s attitude is born from modern Greece never having to stand on its own. The receipt of 180 years of subsidies from Western Europe in an effort to counter Russia have left Greece expecting that there was no reason to be fiscally responsible.

Russia vs. NATO

Global gold prices weren’t much affected by warfare in Ukraine this month, though citizens both in Russia and Ukraine scrambled to buy physical gold before their respective currencies devalued even further. The Russian government itself is moving 55 tonnes of gold reserves to Switzerland, in case increased sanctions prohibit it from using domestically-held gold.

Of course, Russian sanctions against Ukraine are causing far more harm than western sanctions against Russia. The government in Kiev has instituted capital controls to prevent money flight as reserves dwindle, and promised financial aid from Europe has not materialized. The last funds were received back in September.

Both Russia and the West are treating the situation as a long-term event, with each side accusing the other of seeking to dominate Eurasia. In response to the perception that Putin is engaging in low-intensity asymmetric warfare with the West, the British announced the formation of a social media propaganda brigade of what critics call “Facebook warriors”.

Another incursion into NATO’s sphere of influence was China winning a contract to supply NATO member Turkey with air defense missiles. Due to the security risks involved, the rest of NATO refuses to allow the missiles to be integrated into the overall NATO defense network, which weakens the southern edge of the alliance.

U.S. Economy

Money is pouring into the U.S. stock and bond market, as America is seen as the only major economy that is recovering. However, opposition to “creative accounting” in government economic reports is growing louder. The CEO of polling company Gallup released an article calling U.S. unemployment numbers “the Big Lie”.

The global glut in crude oil reserves is causing a rise in unemployment, as the largest shale oil driller in the world scraps expansion plans and rig counts in Canada and the U.S. drop by 30% in three months.

This hasn’t stopped gas prices from rising 40 cents in two weeks, due to bottlenecks in the production line. Strikes at Shell refineries and a surge in demand for heating oil has meant fewer refineries producing gasoline.

A more worrying development is China dumping Treasuries, and TBTF banks hoarding $2 TRILLION of ultra-safe bonds instead of lending money or chasing yield.

Banksters Behaving Badly

While the Big Banks were successful last month in getting Congress to strike down a law prohibiting them from gambling with Federally-insured deposits, and no one at all has gone to jail over the financial crisis caused by that same kind of gambling in derivatives, the fines keep piling up.

Morgan Stanley is paying $2.6 billion in fines for wrongdoing in the mortgage-backed securities market that contributed to the housing collapse, and Bank of America is caught helping clients dodge taxes, but the Bad Boy of Banking Award this month goes to HSBC.

HSBC’s Swiss offices were raided by authorities investigating money laundering by the bank to help clients avoid taxes. The British-born CEO of HSBC, who is registered as a non-resident despite living in London, hid his own income in an HSBC Swiss bank account.

On top of money laundering, HSBC is also being investigated for gold manipulation in the U.S.

Perhaps all this is why HSBC has hired a British spy chief as a director, to help them avoid being caught again. Jonathan Evans was director general of MI5, before quitting last month to take the job at the “too big to jail” bank. The embattled CEO of the bank has stated that HSBC’s branches in the U.S., Mexico, and Brazil may be sold, unless profits pick up. All the billions of dollars in fines and legal fees tend to hit the bottom line, it seems.

HSBC isn’t the only Big Bank under investigation for gold manipulation. The Swiss anti-trust regulator WEKO has announced that multiple banks are being investigated for rigging the London Gold Fix, and the Justice Department is investigating ten banks for gold manipulation.

Global Deflation

The Israeli central bank cuts rates to record low in a surprise move late in February, becoming the 20th central bank to cut rates since January 1. The Telegraph, reporting on the new currency wars, says, “Central Banks have lost control of the world.”

On The Retail Front

Britain’s Royal Mint is seeing a surge in sales, as Greek citizens buy gold sovereigns by the boatload while their government plays chicken with the nation’s creditors and people pull all their money out of the bank to avoid seizure of deposits. Any Greek can walk into a bank and buy British gold sovereigns over the counter.

The state legislature in Arizona passed a bill making gold and silver legal tender. The governor vetoed a previous bill, citing concern that it would reduce the taxes the state gets from precious metal sales.

Gold sales in Saudi Arabia are booming, as the new king follows tradition and bestows the “king’s bonus” of two months wages to every government employee and student to celebrate his ascension to the throne.

This report from SRSrocco shows that demand for the American Silver Eagle is still high.

Market Buzz

Even though India retook the gold import crown from China in 2014, gold is still flooding into the Middle Kingdom. Mineweb reports that Chinese gold demand is up 17% so far this year. In continued attempts to prevent Western sources from tracking their gold purchases, the Chinese are importing more foreign gold directly to the mainland, instead of through Hong Kong. Spotted on Peter Schiff’s website, this article shows that monthly Chinese gold demand is outstripping global gold mining production.

Where’s China getting all this gold? A good part of it is surging gold exports from the United States, as physical gold moves from Western ETFs into Asian vaults.

Beijing must be getting close to their secret goals for sovereign gold reserves, because they have announced a plan to link the Hong Kong and Shanghai gold exchanges, in order to wield more power over the global gold price. This ties in with Eric Sprott’s forecast that we will see the U.S. dollar lose its dominance as the world’s reserve currency and see currencies backed by gold in ten years.

The Austrian government is getting antsy over the security of their gold held in the Bank of England and have been unwinding leasing agreements in order to repatriate Austrian gold reserves from London. Speaking of European gold repatriation, here’s a nice story regarding the man who forced the Bundesbank to start repatriating Germany’s gold.

The World Gold Council reports that the world’s central banks bought 477.2 metric tons of gold in 2014, making it the second-highest year for central bank gold buying in 50 years. (Full report on global gold demand can be found here.) More and more central banks are trying to diversify away from the U.S. dollar.

Grab a cup of coffee, and read through this excellent article, called “Misconceptions About Gold (Gold is Money, sort of)” Here’s an excerpt:

“Given that gold has no yield, fiat currencies can only compete with it by offering an interest return. The steepness of the yield curve affects gold for two possible reasons: it can either steepen because loose monetary policy is pushing short term rates down, or because rising inflation expectations are pushing long term rates up – both are bullish for gold (conversely, the opposite is bearish for gold). Credit spreads are an indicator of economic confidence. If lower rated debt declines relative to higher rated debt, it indicates declining economic confidence, which is bullish for gold.”

Looking at recent mine production numbers, Mineweb wonders: “Have we hit Peak Silver?”

Looking Ahead

Election turmoil in UK this spring may result in U.S. being the only “safe haven” economy in the world, driving stock prices and the dollar even higher, which will trigger interest rate hikes by the Fed to counter the “hot money”. Higher interest rates will mean higher bond yields, attracting more money.

In June, Greece should be running out of money, and the Fed will be on the cusp of raising interest rates. Extra attention, if that’s possible, will be paid to the March FOMC meeting.

We end this month with a story that shows that central bankers are so corrupt, they even steal from themselves.

– Steven Cochran is the Content Manager/Editor for Gainsville Coins

Scot’s Product Review: Nikon PROSTAFF Target EFR 3-9x 40mm Rifle Scope

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If my rifles had feelings, I bet my .22’s and air rifles would feel slighted. They don’t get the expensive accessories that my centerfire ones get, the most important of which are quality optics. I usually have to pinch pennies, and I view the most important firearms in my collection to be the self-defense and hunting ones, so that’s where the money goes. The importance of self-defense does not need to be stated, while hunting puts food on the table and also serves a critical function. I don’t get to hunt as much as I would like, but when I do it is most likely going to be for things like hogs and other medium game. In my mind, these jobs are for centerfire rifles, so our 22’s usually get relegated for fun and training.

I did decide, though, that I needed to change that and get at least one of the family .22’s outfitted with a quality scope. The .22 is very useful for controlling small predators as well as taking small game. A good scope enhances one’s ability to hit, especially if their eyes are over 40 years old, and a good scope is easier to see through and more reliable than a bargain basement one.

As I cast about looking for what scope to get, there were a number of things to consider– fixed or variable power; whether or not to get one with adjustable parallax; what size objective; whether it might adapt to an air rifle, should that need ever arise; what size; if variable power, what power range; what finish; and so forth. In other words, there were lots of decisions to make, many of which affect price, which was very critical to me.

I decided that price was going to have to be the first matter to dispense with. I settled on a $200 price point and hoped to find something for less. I also knew I would prefer a matte black finish, so with those two decisions out of the way quickly, it was onto the harder stuff.

The next issue was parallax. This is going to be a simplistic explanation by someone who is not an optical engineer, so please bear with me. Scopes are basically focused at a specific distance. The problem is getting the reticle and target both in focus at the same time. If they are, there should be no error in lining the reticle up on the target. If they aren’t, there can be problems, particularly if your eye isn’t in perfect alignment with your scope. The focus adjustment found on the rear objective on most scopes doesn’t, by the way, have much to do with the focus on the target. You are instead, focusing on the reticle.

Because .22’s are used at shorter ranges than centerfire rifles, they need to have their parallax set to allow for that. Rimfires usually are adjusted to 50 yards, while centerfire scopes are generally set to 100 yards. The closer you get to the target, the more small changes mean in terms of parallax adjustment. More magnification also increases the effect. If you work with binoculars or a manual focus camera, you can check this out for yourself. Going from 15 feet to 100 feet with a powerful telephoto lens will require more spinning of the focus ring than going from 100 feet to infinity.

Since the parallax setting on a rifle scope affects the focus on the target, you will also get a clearer image of it when you use a scope set appropriately for your purpose.

If you want to use the thing on an air rifle, the problem gets even worse. Remember how short air rifle ranges are. A centerfire scope can cause considerable trouble on an air rifle, especially if the power is cranked up. You often really can’t even get a clear image of the target at 10 yards through a centerfire scope, and 10 yards and less are common ranges for air rifles.

Another thought is that we also need more accuracy for the small targets we are likely to try to take with an air rifle or rimfire. Even a small amount of parallax induced error could make more of a difference than if we get a close shot on a buck with a centerfire.

You can certainly use a scope at distances different from how it is set for parallax, but we are looking for the best results, and those occur when you use the right tool. That means looking for rimfire and air rifle scopes when you are going to mount them on such weapons.

Just as with magnification, we can get scopes with adjustable parallax (sometimes called focus) settings; since I was looking for the most versatile scope I could get, I decided that I should look for one with adjustable parallax. That narrowed the field considerably.

The power range and fixed versus variable power were the next issues. Variable power scopes are bulkier, heavier, and more complex than fixed scopes, but I decided the advantages outweighed the disadvantages. The reality of today’s market also means there are more choices for variable power scopes than fixed ones.

Magnification led to a compromise for me. I think many shooters go for more magnification than they need and certainly more than they can use in most field positions. Magnification definitely makes it easier to see stuff, but you have to hold it steady to be able to use it. More power also adds size and weight, which is not welcome on a .22. Since most of us start having problems with the shakes when we go over about four power, I decided that I wanted a scope with that as about the midpoint of the power range. That would have given me about a two to seven power scope, but I couldn’t find many in the desired price range that were also rated for air rifles, which are often harder on scopes than heavy game rifles due to the odd back and forth recoil impulses they create when fired. Scopes that can take .308 recoil sometimes lose their reticles when used on an airgun, if they aren’t built for it.

Since my first choice for power range wasn’t doable, I shifted to the three to nine power scopes, and I found more options. The one that caught my eye first and held it was the Nikon PROSTAFF Target EFR Rimfire Rifle Scope at $186.00. There were several other options, but I used Nikon cameras for many of the years I was a news photographer and was generally very happy with their gear, especially the lenses. I also have one of their 3x scopes intended for the AR-15 that I’ve been happy with and plan to review. I was especially happy to see that this scope is made in the Philippines instead of China, like so many of today’s optics. While the Chinese can make excellent products, I am bothered by their political system, so I look for other options when I make purchases.

Since I planned to review this, I requested and received a sample from Nikon. To make this part of the story short, I did decide to buy it from Nikon after using it.

The scope made a favorable impression as I unpacked it. It is well finished in a matte black, and it gives off an aura of quality. The one thing that seemed slightly chintzy were the covers for the adjustment dials. They appear to be made of a polymer, and I think metal would have been better. That said, they are very serviceable and are not as likely to bend as metal ones might, which could render them unusable.

The tube diameter is one inch, which is enough to allow for a 40mm objective to gather light and a wide range of adjustments to zero with. The objective is large for this type of scope. There were a few that matched it, but I found none that exceeded it. A larger sized objective is good in terms of gathering light, which helps as twilight grows deeper, but it does make for a bigger scope, which brings us to the only drawback I found– the size and weight. It weighs in at 15.7 ounces– just shy of a pound. It is 12.5 inches long and almost two inches in diameter at its widest point– the front objective. This is, frankly, larger than I wanted, but you have to make tradeoffs in life. To get the other things I desired, I had to give up some in this area. That said, it looks massive on the Ruger 10/22 that I put it on.

The scope has performed quite well on the range. I had no problems getting it to a 50 yard zero, which is where I usually zero .22 rifles. The adjustments were positive enough to inspire confidence, and the groups moved as they should when you made adjustments.

I usually study user reviews before making most purchases, and the adjustments seem to be one area of contention by some on Amazon. Nikon says each click moves the group ¼ inches, but that is at 50 yards rather than the more usual 100 yards for this specification. Some reviewers take exception to this and argue that the adjustments are too coarse for a “target” scope. I view this as making a mountain over a molehill. While Nikon might be making a mistake in calling this a “target” scope and should probably change to the 100 yard convention, I don’t think this scope is one that most competitive target shooters are going to buy. They need something far more expensive, and they know it. The adjustment ranges are plenty good; they’re enough for a hunter or plinker to get an excellent zero and will serve all but the most finicky quick well.

My go-to scope for comparisons and accuracy testing on rifles is a Leupold 3.5-10x 50mm adjustable objective scope that I purchased about 20 years ago during a very aggressive sale by a vendor. I have never regretted stretching to get it. They go for $550 today. I like to use it as a benchmark when I look at other scopes. The Nikon did well in comparison, considering the price difference. While I think the Leupold offered more contrast and better sharpness, the difference was a lot less than the prices would imply. The biggest area of difference was in light gathering, as one would expect, since the Leupold has a 50mm objective and the Nikon has a 40mm one. A larger objective simply lets in more light at the expense of size and weight. That said, at lower magnifications, it didn’t matter much. Our eyes can only take in so much, and until you go past about 5x the Nikon does just fine, even in comparison to a top notch Leupold.

I don’t have an optical test bench, but I did use a U.S. Air Force optical test target for comparisons and can only give the Leupold a slight edge in resolution.

The one place where I think the higher-priced scope would clearly win is durability and build quality. Just as in my photographer days, a lot of the extra money for the professional stuff went into making it harder to break. As good as this scope is, I would prefer to spend more money on a scope for a defensive arm, if I could raise it. Otherwise, I would use this and be careful.

The field of view is comparable to other scopes in this magnification range, but again Nikon uses measurements at 50 yards in the manual. Most other companies use 100 yards for field of view statistics. I was initially perplexed as I thought I was seeing more than Nikon was admitting to giving me. I also noticed that Nikon used the numbers in the manual on their website, but said they were for 100 yards, which is an error according to my measurements. Field of view matters, as it makes it easier to have situational awareness. Looking through a scope tends to concentrate our focus, which can be detrimental. Being able to see more usually helps.

I mounted the scope to the Ruger with the Weaver Multi-Slot Base System. It had been wearing a mount that only had two slots and didn’t line up with Picatinny slots, so that meant I couldn’t move the scope back and forth between rifles without futzing with the mounting. Since I test stuff, being able to move things about is helpful.

I used Warne Quick Detachable rings in the medium height. Again, the reason was to be able to move it around with a minimum of work, plus these are good, solid rings at a reasonable price.

The one thing that surprised me was how much eye relief the scope has– 3.6 inches– which is what many centerfire scopes offer. That meant mounting it further forward than I expected. I had to push it forward as far as possible. It would probably be better a little more forward, but then I would have had to go to higher mounts.

One very nice feature of the scope is that once you have zeroed it, you can lift the adjustment knobs and set them to zero. That means you can easily get back to your zero setting should you make any adjustments for range or windage. Another good feature is that the knobs are covered with caps. I have scopes that lack these covers, and I fret endlessly about how easy it is for the knob to rub against something and get changed.

Nikon rates the scope as waterproof to 1 meter for 10 minutes but advises you to keep it out of running water. It is nitrogen filled to prevent condensation and mold.

Nikon calls the reticle their Precision one. It is a fairly typical duplex with a fine dot at the center of the crosshairs. Both the heavy, outside crosshairs and the finer inner crosshairs are fairly fine. I usually, if there is a choice, get a heavy duplex, but I am normally thinking of larger targets and longer ranges than what a rimfire or airgun is likely to be used on, so this works pretty well. They give you a nice diagram on the box that tells you what each element of the reticle covers at 100 yards at 3x and 9x, which is very useful information you can use to estimate range with. I wish it had been included in the instruction manual or on their website. I normally am quick to heave out boxes to make room for more stuff in my debris field of an office, and I’m glad I spotted this before tossing the box. Speaking of the instruction manual, the fine print in it was a painful reminder of the fact that my eyes are getting old. I think they should have used larger type to spare my psyche.

Overall, there is a lot to like about this scope. The optics are impressive for the price point. It is well finished and seems solid. I think it will make a good long-term partner for my 10/22. The lifetime warranty is comforting. My other .22’s are now jealous.

– SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor, Scot Frank Erie

Recipe of the Week: Cheddar Chowder, by L.H.

It’s cold outside! So my menu-planning mind marches determinedly toward hearty and warming comfort foods. This soup fits the bill, and it’s one we’ve come to enjoy over the last 25 years as a “meatless Monday” meal. You may want to add cooked ham bits or crumbled bacon to it, but really we haven’t found that the addition of meat enhances it in any significant way. Served with some hearty garlic toast, it’s a pretty wonderful winter meal, as is.

Ingredients:

  • 4 Tbsp. butter
  • 1/4 c. finely chopped onion
  • 1 cup chopped green pepper (optional; I have always omitted it, as we’re not fond of them)
  • 1 cup sliced carrots
  • 1 cup peeled and diced potatoes
  • 1 (16 oz.) bag frozen peas
  • 5 Tbsp. flour
  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans chicken broth
  • 3 cups (about 3/4 lb.) cheddar cheese, grated
  • 2 cups milk
  • salt and pepper, to taste >
  • chopped parsley (optional)

Directions:

  1. Melt butter in soup-pot over medium heat; cook vegetables, covered, and stirring occasionally for 20 minutes or until crisp-tender.
  2. Remove from heat and stir in flour.
  3. Return to medium heat and cook 1 minute, stirring a few times.
  4. Add chicken broth; bring to boiling, stirring constantly.
  5. Gradually stir in cheese (a handful at a time).
  6. Cook over medium heat until cheese has melted; then gradually add milk.
  7. Stir well, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
  8. Bring just to boiling, but do not boil.
  9. Sprinkle with parsley, if desired.

Makes 6-8 servings.

o o o

Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlogreaders? Please send it via e-mail. Thanks!

Letter Re: Tactical Preparedness

Hugh,

I would offer a short story to your readers: Some years ago a friend, who has been preparing for the fecal matter to hit the oscillator for some years, was at the house of another friend, who was his neighbor. He asked her to show him her pantry. She did this, and it contained about three days worth of food. He looked her in the eye and told her that when things really go south, “The first place I am going to go is your house, and I am going to kill you, your children, and any other threat that I find to my survival!” She understood the danger message and became a serious prepper herself!

The point here is that it behooves us all to prepare. When the trucks stop running, it WILL get gruesome fast. So, we need to keep our eye on the ball and not get hung up on too many of the little things.

Yours in Liberty from the Redoubt, – DB

Odds ‘n Sods:

Obama Threatened to Shoot Down IAF Iran Strike. – JMC

o o o

Private police carry guns and make arrests, and their ranks are swelling. – P.M.

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Vandalism in Arizona Shut Down Internet, Cellphone, Telephone Service Across State. – J.G.

While the reports suggest vandalism, accessing the cable required the use of power equipment and significant labor. This seems like something more than a bunch of delinquents causing a ruckus. My mind tends to run towards disgruntled employee sabotage or deliberate probing for weakness. – HJL

o o o

Loretta Lynch’s Secret Prosecutions. – P.M.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Emma felt frightened, apprehensive, yes, but also elated and excited, her feelings all tumbled and mixed together like a stew of varied ingredients tossed into the same pot. She was aware of the blood coursing through her veins, the beat of her heart, the breath in her lungs. Was aware, too, of that clenched knot that hung in the pit of her stomach. This was what it was to be alive, to be at the edge, facing survival eye to eye, knowing, KNOWING, you would win.” ? Helen Hollick, The Forever Queen

Notes for Sunday – March 01, 2015

Today, we present another entry for Round 57 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  3. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less then one minute without the use of any tools, and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 30 DPMS AR-15 .223/5.56 30 Round Gray Mil Spec w/ Magpul Follower Magazines (a value of $448) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt. (An equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions.),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a 340 value),
  8. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  9. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  10. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate, and
  12. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Instituteis donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate– a $325 retail value,
  5. $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P),
  6. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  7. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. *Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  6. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a Locking Rifle Rack (a $379 value), and
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 57 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Your Brain On Paper—How to Write Useful Operating Instructions, by M.R. – Part 3

Responsibilities

I designed the storage system and have assumed all responsibilities for filling the water containers and replacing the water every two years. In my absence, that responsibility falls to the oldest member of the remaining family who is also responsible for the continued upkeep of this operating instruction and ensuring that it is available to all group members. If group discipline problems erupt in using the water, that person acts with the authority of a group leader. I may be gone, but I’m watching from heaven!

Policy

  • Refreshing Water: The blue, plastic, storage containers at the ranch and in the city must be emptied and refilled every two years and the date of refill annotated with the black marker on top of the container. A marker is stored on the top row of blue plastic storage containers at the city and ranch locations. After draining, rinse the containers with a solution containing 1/4 cup of household bleach per gallon of rinse water. The bleach should have been purchased within the six months prior to use. Refill from a reliable water supply, such as the functional city water supply or the ranch well. Cross out the last date and annotate the current date of filling. Make sure that the bung wrench, marking pen, and Katadyn filtration kits are replaced on the top row of containers. Do not stack the containers more than four high.
  • Opening Water Storage Containers: The bung wrench can be used to make it easier to open the white plastic filler caps. Place the socket portion of the bung wrench over the white plastic filler cap and turn the wrench counterclockwise until the plastic seals break and you can then freely turn the cap to complete opening. After filling, use the bung wrench in a clockwise direction to tighten the caps. Always cap the containers when they are not being used. Return the bung wrench to the top row of containers after use.
  • Safety When Emptying Water Containers: A full blue water container weighs more than 40 lbs and should be handled by two people, if possible, to avoid injury. Placing a container on a waist-level surface and tilting it to dispense water is recommend, versus trying to hold it and pour, at least until the container becomes progressively empty with use.
  • Storage Amounts, Ideal Locations: Current storage locations are out of any direct sunlight to preserve the life of the plastic. Any change in location should ideally be cool and dark. Twenty-five blue, plastic containers are located in the garage in the city, and 20 are in the basement of the ranch cabin. If the group increases, adding one 5-gallon container per new member will maintain the intended duration of the supply of three days in the city and five days at the ranch. Less is needed at the ranch due to the presence of a lake and a well, which can be accessed, if needed, without power. Refer to the operating instruction “Operation and Maintenance of Ranch Well Pump and Well Use by Bucket” in the main binder.
  • Emergency Water Use: Emergency water is to be used for cooking and consumption only. As much as possible, hygiene and hand washing are to be done with wet wipes and hand sanitizing gel, which are kept in our city home and ranch cabin in the bathroom and kitchen areas. (See “Inventory of Survival Items” for locations and amounts of stored hand sanitizer and wet wipes. The list is in this binder.) If water being dispensed at time of use is not clear or has an odor, it must be considered unreliable and processed through a Katadyn filter. The person responsible for the maintenance of the supply will supervise any dispensing of the water. This is to ensure that he or she is aware of the condition of the supplies and that water is not overused or wasted.
  • Truck Distilled Water: The water in the truck is distilled water, purchased at retail and stored in the truck tool boxes in the original, unopened 2.5 gallon plastic containers. An extra key to unlock the tool boxes is secured in a magnetic box affixed to the rear of the cab, in the space between the cab and the truck bed. The purchase date of the water is marked on top in black marker. This water should not be kept for more than two years without filtering it through the Katadyn filter system, which is stored under the front passenger seat, before use. As food supplies in the truck are military MRE’s, it is not necessary to add water to the essential food items. Water is to be used for drinking only. There are packages of sanitizing wet wipes in the tool box for hygiene use under the rear seat of the truck. The person responsible for maintaining the supplies will also supervise any dispensing of the water. The valves on the containers are pulled open for dispensing and pushed shut to turn off the flow. Ensure that the valves are fully closed before returning partially full containers to the tool box. Duct tape that is found in the tool boxes can be used to tape over the closed valves to prevent accidental opening and loss of water.
  • Water Consumption: Water use during an emergency is not accurately predictable. Too little water consumption can be a danger, so a ration of water per adult member should be consumed regardless of how thirsty an individual feels. Overuse can result in shortage. Use of the supply for anything other than consumption will directly reduce the length of time the supply lasts. General needs are one gallon of water per person per day, for consumption only. Any use of the water for cooking, adding to dehydrated food, or for hygiene is not included in this one gallon amount. Water used for powdered drink mixes is considered water for consumption. Members may need more than one gallon of water due to pregnancy, illness, age, activity, climate, and diet. Those who are not physically fit may need more water with heat and increased activity. In very hot weather, predicted use is double, at two gallons per day. The length of time the water supply lasts will, therefore, depend upon the group’s proper use of what is stored, climate, and unforeseen changes in the group size, make-up, and health needs.

References

All water containers and Katadyn filtration kits were purchased from Sierra Survival Supplies at Washington and First. Bob, the owner is the best contact point. Containers are also available from Redoubt Water Supply and Service next to the old city hall on Main Street. Amazon.com is also a good source for replacement items.

Other operating instructions that are related to this instruction include:

  • Bug-Out Truck Inventory,
  • Inventory of Survival Items,
  • Operating Instruction on Annual Family Training, and
  • Operation and Maintenance of Ranch Well Pump and Well Use by Bucket.

Each Katadyn kit contains a folded sheet of instructions to refer to.

Date Written: January 23, 2013

Last Reviewed: January 15, 2015, no changes were made. (My initials)

Location of Instructions:

Orange-colored Operating Instruction Binder is maintained in the city house gun safe. If you don’t know the combination, ask another member who bothered to remember it or can tell you where the combination is secretly stored.

Log

Jan 15, 2015—“I am planning to compare our water plans with Bob Stratford as he has been doing research and has some helpful improvements. His number is ###-####.” (initials)

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After You Complete an Instruction

Now is the time to make sure that those who might need it when SHTF know that it exists and where it is. It provides a great reason to sit the family down for a meeting and to bask in the glory of your latest preparation accomplishment. Don’t be surprised if the meeting in which you planned to receive adoration turns into having immediate things that need to be changed. Is it a failure? No! You just discovered a hole or gap in your preps, a potential Achilles heel. Now you can fix it. This is a good thing.

Where you keep the binder should be based on its contents, in terms of security. If you have an instruction containing information you don’t want anyone other than your survival team to know, you need to secure your binder of instructions. I have an instruction covering sensitive financial information and caches, for example. So, my operating instruction binder is kept in a safe, and those with a need to know have the combination memorized or know where the combination to the safe is hidden. You can also choose to separately maintain operating instructions that have sensitive information. As far as protection from the elements, an ideal location would be with your stash of important papers and documents that you have collected for a possible bug-out.

Materials Needed

I’m a scrounger, so I try to avoid new expenditures. If you have some good office supplies on hand, you may be happy with those. Ideally, I have found that a flexible and sturdy 3-ring plastic binder in a bright color, with each instruction printed off and then kept in a document protector is great. I’ve listed some outstanding survival-oriented products below. They don’t have to be done on computer and then printed; they can be hand-written in durable ink, crossed-out, and written over. As long as they are legible, they are useful. Hand-written is preferable, if you are more likely to complete them that way. You will also be less likely to include unneeded information.

If money is not an issue, here are some recommended materials available online to produce a weather-sturdy operating instruction collection of the highest quality:

Conclusion

Putting together operating instructions has not been as fun as designing a mini-survival kit or mastering eight ways to start a fire, but it has proven not too difficult to accomplish. Operating instructions can be done with a word processor, or written by hand. If you are compulsive by nature, enlist your spouse or another adult family or group member to keep you from writing an encyclopedia. Also, whether your write these by yourself or with help, the very process will do something you probably have been doing inadequately and infrequently, and that is doing a real review of your preps. Keep this task limited and you may very well find, as I have, that the process of writing instructions is actually an overall time-saver and helpful organizer.

Letter Re: Bug Out Bag [Baloney] by RS

I too am in agreement on the weight of packs. Most people I know base their “ability” on how much they can carry over a short, flat distance and they have little practice at judging that distance. If I can brag a little, I was graced with shooting a nice bull elk this last fall. I went in on foot about three miles that was steep, rough, and covered with brush and dead fall. Coming out it started to snow. I had a small pack that day, my rifle, the head, antlers, and cape. It took me three hours to go the three miles back to the truck. I was wiped out. At home I weighed the load– seventy five pounds. Since I weigh one fifty, I felt pretty macho. The next day with a friend along, I carried out fifty four pounds, then thirty eight. His loads were a little lighter. The third day I brought out the last by myself at forty two pounds and forty six pounds. (This was just meat– no bone or hide.) It was rough hiking, loaded one way for three days, and I was sore, tired, and limping though happy about the elk meat. My point here is this: if I had to carry a pack all day for several days and still function, it wouldn’t be more than thirty five pounds, and I really would try to make it less. Also a word about zippers. I have noticed and experienced that many hunting packs, day packs, and backpacks have been made with materials that hold up quite well, other than the plastic zippers. When they fail, you are left with a really good pack that is worthless. I have taken the time to replace the failed plastic with heavy brass zippers on two of my packs, and it has worked out well. – B.S.

Economics and Investing:

California Rental Armageddon: Nearly half of Los Angeles adults doubling up, working class moving out, or you have the option of simply living in poverty.

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“That Couldn’t Possibly Be True”: The Startling Truth About the US Dollar. – T.F.

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The long inflation con on the public: How the CPI severely underreports inflation and the slow erosion in the American standard of living.

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Interview with Steve St. Angelo

Odds ‘n Sods:

Veterans Place Corrupt County Board Under Citizen’s Arrest – They Laugh, Until the Sheriff Shows Up . – M.L.

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Father Of Black Teenager Murdered By Illegal Alien Asks ‘Do Black Lives Really Matter?’

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SurvivalBlog reader H.E. writes in to say: “Here is what I discovered by accident. The silver heat shields for vehicle windows can also be used in your homes. Your body heat can’t be detected from outside. I was in fire department years ago. We used a scanner to find where people may be in building. Using this material can stop people from seeing where you are moving in your home. This material can be bought from builders supply places. People need to try this on homes.”

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Pantry Items That Expire Way Before You Think They Do. – K.C.

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‘Warrior’ fungus could wipe out a quarter of British wheat crop. – RBS

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” (KJV)

Notes for Saturday – February 28, 2015

February 28th is the birthday of famed Swiss investor and economic pundit Marc Faber (born 1946).

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Today, we present another entry for Round 57 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  3. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less then one minute without the use of any tools, and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 30 DPMS AR-15 .223/5.56 30 Round Gray Mil Spec w/ Magpul Follower Magazines (a value of $448) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt. (An equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions.),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a 340 value),
  8. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  9. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  10. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate, and
  12. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Instituteis donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate– a $325 retail value,
  5. $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P),
  6. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  7. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate,
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. *Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  6. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a Locking Rifle Rack (a $379 value), and
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 57 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Your Brain On Paper—How to Write Useful Operating Instructions, by M.R. – Part 2

Topic Areas for Operating Instructions

Topics will vary for different groups, depending upon the extent of their preparations and unique specifics. I live in the mountains of California. You will find earthquake instruction in my binder, but you will not find one concerning hurricanes. Choose one or two areas important to you, and start with them. This will allow you to learn and test the format and save a lot of re-do time.

On the bright side, you may find that the operating instructions and the binder provide a place to organize and include papers and information that you have already stashed away, as attachments. An instruction concerning caches can have inventories and maps as attachments, for example. Here are some possible areas to get you thinking:

  • Home Defense
  • Family Meeting and Training Plan
  • Bug-Out Vehicle Inventory and Maintenance
  • Bug-Out Bags and Contents: Inventory and Review of Use/Purpose
  • Alternate Routes to Safe Location
  • Plan of Action for Civil Disorder
  • Plan of Action for Disease Epidemic
  • Plan of Action for Natural Disaster(s)
  • Inventory of Supplies and Equipment
  • Survival Food Pantry Inventory and Rotation (for those not constantly using and rotating)
  • Wind Turbine Operation and Battery Bank Maintenance
  • Solar Electrical System Operation, Maintenance and Battery Care
  • Portable Generator Operation, Maintenance, and Use Log
  • Critical Contacts List and Means of Communication
  • Vehicle Care/Maintenance and Log
  • Well Pump Maintenance, Testing for Bacteria, and Treating Bacteria
  • Financial Documents Inventory and Related Instructions
  • Emergency Water Supply Storage and Purification
  • Tool Use Instructions and Maintenance
  • Firearms and Ammunition
  • Operation and Maintenance of Generator, and Fuel Storage
  • Fuel Storage and Use
  • Medical Supplies and Equipment
  • Caches and Hidden Items
  • Order of Tasks and Events for Evacuation from City to Safe Spot
  • Home Security System Operation and Battery Replacements

This is just a sample list. Remove or add those topics that are important to you and your situation or group’s needs. A great way of identifying the need for an instruction is to ask the person in your family or group who you think is, second to yourself, most knowledgeable about your preps:

If this is your spouse, say something like, “Honey, tell me everything you know about (such and such).” Brace yourself for the response! However, this is exactly what is so valuable about the process. You will find out who knows what and what areas are most important to document right away. Also, you will impress upon those you ask, the level of their own need to buff up their knowledge and take the operating instructions seriously.

Operating Instruction Mistakes

There are some things to avoid:

Too many instructions. You will either not get around to all of them, or you may skimp on the content. You might also make updating them a nightmare. Start small and stay focused. Only those areas you rank most important, in terms of content or in terms of the areas your family or group members are the least familiar with.

Too many copies at too many locations. On the surface it is tempting to include copies of instructions at more than one location, as a backup if a binder is misplaced or damaged. However, too many copies increase the likelihood of outdated information not being updated. Bad information can be worse than no information. Operating instructions are no fun. Why make the process more difficult for little to no gain in value?

Using electronic documents in place of or in addition to hard copies. Unless you are an UberGeek who has a solid plan for the use of electronics when SHTF and even after an EMP attack, electronic copies are sensitive to being lost to device failure. It makes it harder to ensure that sensitive information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands, and it complicates the updating process.

Skimping on the materials you use for the instructions. On the top end is a waterproof copier or waterproof writing paper. On the more affordable end are indelible ink and document protectors. Large ziploc bags are my preference; they’re just large enough at the tab to allow holes to be punched for my 3-ring binder. Flexible binders are generally more expensive but are more durable than rigid binders. Plastic construction trumps paper products. Placing the flexible binder and contents into what is called a “project” case or container is further protection and provides a hard writing surface and means to store writing instruments and “white-out” or to co-store bulky items, such as related roadmaps. At the end of the article I have listed some links to my favorite items for a minimal and durable system.

Failing to store important things that you have referenced in your instructions along with the instructions binder. This can be eliminated by including all of the information in the operating instruction, of course. However, that can turn the task of writing the instructions into real labor and the instruction into an overly complicated encyclopedia. Why reinvent the wheel? Attach that key owner’s manual or store it with the binder.

Thinking that operating instructions replace skill acquisition, essential knowledge, and practice or recurring training and review. They don’t! Survival skills are sometimes so important that they require motor memory—our nervous system and muscles knowing what to do quickly and without thought. This is head knowledge that must be known and applied on the spot. You won’t have time to run to a binder of operating instructions to find out how to use a tourniquet safely or to apply a clotting bandage while a loved one is bleeding out. While the less common tasks for disassembling and reassembling one of your least used firearms can be in an instruction, marksmanship skills and weapon operation must be so well known that they are automatic. Key skills are for knowing and mastering without having to look them up in time of need.

Not reviewing and changing instructions as needed. Outdated information can be more than simply unhelpful; it can be dangerous. It is inconvenient, if not worse, to dig up a cache container only to find out that the contents were moved or changed without telling anyone. Using that new air compressor that uses oil for lubrication or cooling is not going to benefit from the old instruction for the oil-less compressor that you replaced when it broke.

An Example of a Completed Operating Instruction

Okay, we’ve reviewed the why, what, where, when, and how to. Let’s look at how an instruction comes together:

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Operating Instruction: Emergency Water Supplies

Purpose: This instruction covers the amount and location of water currently stored at our city home, in the 2006 GMC Sierra 2500 truck, and at our safe location at the ranch in the mountains. It also covers the refilling of stored supplied, and actual use during an emergency, as well as where replacement items can be purchased.

Explanation of Terms

Plastic Water Storage Containers: Refers to the blue, plastic, 5-gallon containers in the basement of the ranch cabin and in the garage of the city house. They are topped with white filler caps and have the date of filling with safe to drink water written the top in black magic marker. All containers are identical. Dates may vary.

Katadyn Water Filtration Kits: There are large Katadyn kits stored on the top row of water storage containers at the ranch, in the city, and a smaller kit stored under the right front passenger seat of the 2006 GMC truck for use during bug-out. Each is enclosed in its own zippered black storage bag labeled “Katadyn”. Explicit instructions are in the kits and this item is regularly reviewed and used during annual family training. (See Operating Instruction on Annual Family Training.)

Bung Wrench: This is the red, plastic, long-handled wrench stored on the top row of water storage container at each location. The wrench is used to open the white plastic caps on the blue containers to dispense the water.

Portable Water Container, 5-gallon: Refers to the two, folded, plastic bag-containers carried in our truck tool box. These are used to collect water for filtration and use, if needed, during the trip to the safe location.

2 and 1/2 Gallon Distilled Water in Retail Containers: Refers to the 10 retail bottles of “Spring Pure” brand distilled water carried in the tool boxes that are mounted to the bed of the truck. The water is steam distilled. The containers are marked on the top as to date of purchase.

Reliable Water Source: Refers to city water during normal times and well water used from our annually-tested ranch well. (After a SHTF scenario in the city, or if the well water has not been tested within 12 months for bacteria, the water sources are NOT considered reliable and will require processing through Katadyn filtration systems before consuming.)